Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word. It is so practical, not theory, real life truth for real life situations in this day and in this generation. But it’s not a reading book, it’s an applying book. If you just read it and don’t do it, it doesn’t do you any good. You have to read and heed, hear and obey. And the best way to do that is to ask the Holy Spirit to help you read, and show you what to obey. Just the first thing. Don’t worry about everything, just do the first thing, and He’ll take it from there. You are one decision away from obedience. One decision away from God’s blessing, His favor, His anointing, His joy - overcoming! All of the Good that God has for you is waiting… for you to take the first step that He reveals. Proverbs 27:12 – “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” You would think this statement, this warning is about a “bridge out ahead,” or a place your friends are going that you know you shouldn’t go… But it can be even closer than that… Some of the gravest dangers are the ones most people don’t see. One of the greatest dangers is to lose confidence, to lose faith, to let doubt get a toe hold, so it takes over. The simple keep going – they don’t reject it, they give thought-time to doubt, or fret, or fear. They don’t evict it with a vengeance, they let it linger. They keep going in it, giving time to it, putting words to it, which becomes their downfall. The first danger is doubt. The serpent didn’t come to kill Eve. He came to make her doubt – first, God’s Word (Did He really say that?) and then God’s Goodness (that’s because He knows if you eat that apple, you’ll just like Him). As if God, who is Good, who created all good, would keep any good from you. The first dangers that the simple keep going toward – are always thoughts, not bullets, the feelings of the heart, not floods, fires or earthquakes. The best way to see the first danger of thoughts – is to keep your thoughts on Him, by your words declaring His Word. Your Words direct your thoughts, they can change them, correct them, continue them, establish them. That’s one of the “above all else’s” in the Bible. Above all else, guard your heart, above all else – get wisdom. Both come from God’s Word – and His Word becomes your thoughts and your heart – if your mouth puts it there. If you make this your life-habit, His Word will become so strong in you – that anything less or different will be a clear danger sign to you. So the refuge you take, is to reject it, and repeat truth, establish right, double down on what He said, shutting out what anybody else says. If you can’t see the first danger, you’re less likely to see the second, and they get bigger as they go. Thoughts are first. Praying that you will guard them, that you will direct them with your Words, that PRISM will be the source and seed that you plant with your mouth. So you not only recognize and see danger, but you are constantly building up a defense against it. First danger is thoughts, then words – but if you soak in God’s Word – you reverse the danger and it adds to your strength. Praying that you eyes will always be on Him, so your thoughts don’t wander, and your feet don’t wander, so your hands never get dirty. Praying that you will know His plans for you for today – that PiVAT before dinner has you so busy in the blessing of His assignments, that you are heading the opposite direction of danger – and on His path to Good. Praying that every danger – will result in his deliverance, that every trap will end up in triumph, and every risk will bring you to his reward, because your mind is on Christ, your words are in faith, and your hands are doing what He told you to do for His glory and your good. Praying that His Word will direct your words, so your thought-time is His mind. So you will get good at seeing danger, and taking refuge in His Word, that your refuge will grow so the dangers diminish, so His deliverance is always your destiny. Love you all, dad
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Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word. It gives it to you straight. It’s practical, it’s true wisdom, the wisdom that comes from God, not the wisdom that comes from the world. Not what seems wise, what is wise! There are some hard things in life. Waiting for Christmas morning when you’re a kid, that’s hard. Turning the other cheek, that’s hard. But the hardest thing in life – is doing PiVAT before dinner. Why? Because the devil will do anything to stop you from hearing God’s voice, and doing His will. Because if you learn to hear and obey the voice of God, the plans He has for you today, rather than what you want to do... You will be walking in His will, which means you’ll be walking in His victory and the joy that goes with it. If you learn to hear and obey, you’ll become more and more like Jesus, your life will be a success, and your life will have a significant impact, and the devil will do anything to stop you. That’s why PiVAT before dinner is the hardest thing to do in life - but the most rewarding. Praying that you will never miss. What’s the best way to ensure that? A Daily Call – it’s built-in accountability, you won’t show up without it, you can fake it, and just share your PiVAT on the fly, but it soon becomes obvious… There’s a difference between what you think you need most from God today, and what He knows you need. And He will absolutely tell you if you ask. Another thing that is difficult – silence. Have you ever been in an awkward conversation, maybe two or three people, or just one on one? And the last statement spoken kind of hangs there, and the pressure mounts… Almost like a quarterback on a five step drop – he has about – “one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three” – and he has to get rid of the ball, or some very large people are going to run him over like a freight train – that’s pressure. Just like that conversation – someone just has to say something, they can’t handle the silence. Awkward. When it comes to hardest things – one thing that is right up there… Shhh! Don’t say anything. Just Shut Up! God’s Word surprisingly addresses that subject. Some people are quiet, when it’s time to speak, but most people just won’t stop talking. When it comes to talking, the most important hearer - is you. Be careful what you say… because what you say is what you get. Your words to you - are most important. No matter what other people say, (and be careful who you listen to, it affects you) of far greater importance is what you say to you. Are your words life or death? See the PRISM Topic – Speak Life – it’s a good reminder. Other times it’s time to be silent. Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton collaborated on a song with a one-liner that has some weight. Sometimes the greatest way to say something, is to say nothing at all. So what does God say? When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. Praying that you will review today the PRISM Topic – Shut Up. Some of those awkward truths that you really need, and yes, God said it. You’d be surprised. Just like time, the choices you make are critical. You will either do PiVAT before dinner, and run your hours tomorrow on God’s plan and timing, or your own. The difference couldn’t be greater, surpassed only by the result. What is God telling you not to say today? Sometimes the best things, are those left unsaid. He will tell you, and you will either choose His words, and His timing, or yours – the difference equally here… is extreme. Sometimes God says – Shhh! Do you even hear him? Praying that you will know when to speak and when to be silent, because He prompts you. You can trust the Holy Spirit to reveal it, and the more you are quick to obey, the stronger His still, small voice becomes. That’s hard, but the habit is what makes it easier. Praying that when He wants you to speak, and you do speak, it will be His Words, not yours. Because your PRISM time with Him every day, has begun to transform your mind, so you think like Him, and His Words that became your words that you spoke your heart… now become the wisdom, light, life and encouragement that come out of you - to be a blessing to others. Praying that your silence will speak loudly, and your words will be truth and life – for you first, and then for those around you. And that Praise would be the only thing, you never shut up about. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love patterns. Steps in sequence. Patterns will position you and patterns will promote you. Some people say they don’t like patterns, they fancy themselves the creative type. But creatives still have patterns, they just don’t think of them that way. Even an artist painting a canvas, follows patterns, from mixing the paint to the stroke of the brush, they just use those patterns to create diverse results. Patterns bring success. If you love knowledge you will love discipline, and if you love discipline you will love patterns. The rich have patterns, so do the poor. The wicked have patterns, as do the sluggard. Everyone has patterns, and the patterns you choose, will promote you or prevent you. Patterns come either by choice or by nonchoice, but everyone as a pattern – for most things. You brush your teeth with a pattern, you make a meal with a pattern – a sequence of steps. A Super Bowl team has a pattern, a quarterback, an offensive lineman (get off the line first, get your palms under their pads), defensive lineman, (that swim move)… a running back. A ball player has a pattern. So do teachers and doctors and investors. A sequence of steps or actions in the right order that produce results. The action is important as well as the sequence. What you do, how you do it (with all your heart) and when you do it. Farmers plant then water, if they water before they plant the seed, they are just making mud – not growing anything. Jesus had patterns, and He has patterns for you. Praying that your #1 Pattern is to know his plans so you can do his will. If you love me you will obey what I command. Praying that PiVAT is your number one pattern. Praying that PRISM is that pattern that keeps you coming back to His Word – so you know His character, His truth, His instruction His Promise, and His great love for you. Praying that 4C’s is your pattern – so you can obey with money – and guard your heart – you will love God or money. Praying that a Daily Call is your pattern, so you obey Hebrews 3:13 – so you get sharpened like iron, so you overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of your testimony. Praying that you will pray without ceasing. Because the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much. (The consistent, God directed, passionate requests of those in right relationship with God – make a difference – a big difference!) You can partner with God – to change the world. Praying that you will review the PRISM Topic Packet – The Prayer Packet. Prayer lasts forever, God doesn’t forget. And the prayers He tells you to pray – are the ones that are effective. So you don’t pray amiss. When I was little I learned a little pattern of prayer. JOY – Jesus, Others, You. Another one was ACTS – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. God had me tweak it a little bit. TPCS, TP like an Indian Tee Pee, and CS like Customer Service. Random, but memorable. Why tweak it? TP is Thanksgiving and Praise – God said enter my gates with Thanksgiving and my courts with Praise. Both are a sacrifice, so you come in with an offering. Then Confession and Supplication. Confession – keep short accounts with God. Search my heart O God, know my secret thoughts, see if there be any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. And then Supplication – bring your requests before God. That’s not selfish. He loves to hear your requests. And if you ask Him what to pray and how to pray – He will enable you to pray for what is on His heart, what He is about to do, so your requests can add to His will – which He will surely bring to pass. Praying that you will know the patterns that God has for you – so you redeem the time, become more like him, and produce fruit in your life – fruit that will last. Show me a man skilled in his labor, he will stand before kings, he will not stand before mere men. The patterns God gives, give you skill in natural and spiritual things. Praying that you will keep short accounts with God – that you will be in the center of His will, that no unclean thing will separate you from Him, that you will know and do his assignment for you today – in this hour. That you will pray His will, that you will follow his plan – so He can fulfill the purpose He has for you. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word. It gives not just a verse on truth. It gives multiple verses on truth, so you can fully understand what it is, why it’s important, how to get it, how it applies, how to keep it. God doesn’t just give you a little, He gives you the whole thing, the whole understanding… if you will search for it. He who asks receives, He who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Praying that PRISM every day – has you unlocking, and unfolding, and walking in the truth that will set you free. So what is the gift that keeps on giving? One of the greatest gifts, and mysteries of God… Grace. The gift that keeps on giving. You can’t overcome without it. James 4:6 – But He gives more grace. That is why Scripture says, “God opposes the proud, (resists the proud), but gives grace (shows favor) to the humble. Grace is a positional thing, a conditional thing. If you are not humble, you don’t get grace, God resists you. Good luck with that. His power – no one can contend with, no one can overcome and no one can withstand. That’s why you need it on your side. Grace – Unmerited favor, Divine power. Undeserved favor, unlimited power. Grace is for salvation and overcoming. Your eternal salvation – that changes you from darkness to light, from sinful to saved, purified, justified – just as if it never happened. That is the greatest miracle ever – for God to translate you from the kingdom of darkness (what your sins deserve), into the kingdom of life (that Jesus paid for, for you). To take you from a place where your sin deserved death and eternal separation from God, to a place where you are considered Holy and acceptable in his sight, qualified (not by what you did, but by the gift of Jesus death on the cross in your place) to live forever in heaven with God. Through the only door, the only way to the Father in heaven – through faith in Son – Jesus. That is the power of grace and the greatest miracle ever! And that same power that saved you – is available to help you overcome – any obstacle, any temptation – it’s favor you don’t deserve, and it’s power that’s unstoppable – if you choose to receive it and use it and overcome with it. Some people don’t use it, it’s there but they don’t take it. God doesn’t make you, but He makes His grace available, if you humbly through faith receive it. How come some people can overcome mountains in their life? Why can some people endure the deepest trials and come out with complete victory, joyful, and stronger – all the way through them, and coming out of the storm – on the other side. It’s grace – that favor and power that saves you. It requires humility and faith and a choice to use it. Jonah 2:8 – “Those who cling to worthless idols, forfeit the grace that could have been theirs.” They don’t walk in humility or use their faith to choose, receive and walk in the favor and power God has for them. Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace are you saved, through faith, and even that doesn’t come from you, it is the gift of God, not by works (anything you do), otherwise men would boast. Praying that you will review the PRISM Topics – Humility and Humble, and the Relationship Topic – How To Be Humble, and that you will review the PRISM Topic – Faith. The power of God’s Word on humility and faith – is what positions you for His grace, and what activates it in your life. The more grace you have, the less mercy you need. First you must be saved. That is the first work of Grace. Praying that you will review the Relationship Topic – Salvation First. Overcoming anything on earth won’t help you if you die and are eternally separate from God. Then be filled with the Holy Spirit – it’s Who the power of grace flows through. It’s how you get power to live the life of an overcomer. Are you facing a mountain? Are you going through a valley? Are you facing temptation? Are you struggling to love the unlove-able, the underserving? Have you been wronged or betrayed? Do you need strength to persevere? You need Grace. With God’s grace – He will get you though this, not just surviving but victorious, not just barely, but with flying colors. He gives grace to the humble, but He even gives you grace to be humble. Rom 12:3. It’s grace that helps you resist the devil, and its grace that gives you every good thing. Titus 2:11 – For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It trains us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Psalms 84:11 – For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Zechariah 4:7 – Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain: and he will bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace” to it. John 1:14 – and the Word came in human form, and lived among us (and we saw His glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father) full of grace and truth… For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Acts 4:33 – And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. So what do you need grace for? A mountain, a task, an enduring, a victory? God will give you more grace. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. It’s more power than you will ever need, and its what you don’t deserve. He gives it to the humble, they receive it through faith. And the more time you spend in His Word – the more you will know and see and walk - in His grace. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love Gods Word. It’s hope. Psalms 27:10 – Though my father and mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me your way O LORD, lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Have you ever been rejected? Have you ever been abandoned, betrayed or neglected? By the ones you love the most, the one or ones you needed the most? By the one you loved and served the most? Even laid down your life for? Have you ever been abandoned, rejected, or persecuted by those who were close to you, or by people you didn’t even know who came against you without cause? Have you ever felt completely alone? Without hope, without strength, have you ever questioned if it was even worth it to even continue? God says – Even if your own parents reject you – I will receive you, I will accept you, and I have a purpose for you – that will bring joy to your heart, and joy to your life. God loves you more than you know, more than you could ever know, no matter what you’ve done. He loves you more than anyone you have ever known. He loves you even though He knows you completely, the good the bad and the ugly. He loves you more than anyone ever has, than anyone ever could. He loves you completely and He will love you forever. He loves you not just so you feel better, and feel accepted, and feel received and valuable and of great worth, He loves you enough to help you succeed, to teach you His ways – so you walk in His success, so you succeed in your way, when you choose His way. He will teach you His ways if you ask Him. So your focus is not what others think of you, not even what God thinks of you – you already know. Your focus will be who He is, how loving and kind, how powerful and guaranteed, and what He has for you to be and do… That lets you see His glory, His demonstrated love for you, and the success that He has for you. Your worth is not determined by what others think of you. Your worth is determined by the Creator of everything that exists, who formed you on purpose, who loves you, and who died for you. Who has a purpose for you, and who promised to fulfill it in you. Who has grace for you (power to become who He made you to be!) He will teach you His ways if you ask Him. He will lead you in the way He has specifically chosen for you. It’s not over! Because He is good, and has good for you. What people think of you does not matter. Whoever left you - doesn’t affect you and doesn’t reflect you. The only thing that matters is the One who created you, who loves you now, and loves you forever, who will never leave you nor forsake you, who strengthens you, and who leads you to the next view of His glory and His good for you. It’s a love like no other, it’s a love you don’t deserve but can’t avoid if you tried. He loves you enough to pursue you, He accepts you, and protects you, He has good for you, and a purpose for you and He will make sure He fulfills it in you. Praying that you will keep your eyes on Him, not people around you, what He has for you, not what they say about you. That you will ask Him to teach you His ways – He will. The way best for you, the way chosen for you, so you can walk in all that He has planned for you. And it’s Good! Your value is in Him, because of Him, others are who you are called to serve, but their acceptance doesn’t define you, only His opinion matters. And He’s pursuing you, because He loves you. And if you walk in the plans He has for you – He will give you a joy that the world cannot give, that no relationship on earth can ever come close to. You are loved by your Father in heaven. Who has plans for your good, to become the best you – you could ever imagine, and fulfill the purpose that only you can fulfill, that will be significant, worth it, producing blessing for others that will remain even after your gone. Praying that you will always look to God, know His Word, and know His plans for you. And walk in them diligently, knowing He loves you completely, He will never leave you and He will never let you go! Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word. Because it’s what God said, the Word of God. He tells the truth, what you need to hear, when you need it, even if an unpleasant picture is required to accurately describe it. Proverbs 26:11-12 – “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Sometimes God is uncomfortably direct. What people do naturally, God gives a picture of what it really is… What a dog does, he does because that’s what dogs do. It’s what is natural and expected of a dog. So it is with a fool. They repeat their folly. The foolish things they do, they do again, and again. It’s just what fools do. Why? Because they don’t even recognize or realize their foolishness. But then God speaks of a next level fool (one lacking in wisdom or judgment, void of knowledge or sense – senseless). A next level fool is the one who is wise in their own eyes. There’s more hope for a fool than for them. A fool could suddenly realize his folly, suddenly become aware of his foolishness… it could happen. Not so the one wise in their own eyes. They consider their foolish thoughts, words and actions – to be wisdom. It’s rooted in pride, the opposite of God, and the hallmark of the devil. Some fools don’t know, some fools reject knowledge, they decline to change. But some fools wise in their own eyes, believe that the foolishness and sin they continue in - is wisdom. They call good evil and evil good. Like Jesus said, “If the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness.” The next level fool – wise in their own eyes don’t start that way… a child isn’t wise, they are just learning, one wisdom or another. Next level fools become that way – wise in their own eyes. Why? They don’t read God’s Word, so they never learn the difference between truth and deception, wisdom and foolishness – wisdom and what seems like wisdom. They don’t even know wisdom comes from God alone, and that there is also a wisdom that comes from this world – just foolishness disguised. So they cannot recognize it. They follow those before them, wise in their own eyes, and approve of their teachings. Just like the one wise in their own eyes, didn’t start that way, they could even have been wise at one time, but turned away. Maybe they grew up in church or a home that followed God, but they have now turned away, and their choices became their ways, their eyes have become blind. It’s funny to think about who this verse is written to. The fool? Or to you? The fool, and the one wise in their own eyes, are not reading this book. That’s not what fools do. This book is for you – these verses are a warning, an admonishment to guard your heart, your ears, and your mind, your thoughts and your words. Praying for you that PRISM is your priority. Those five things you can do every day in God’s Word. PRISM is a protection for you. Praying that PiVAT before dinner remains your habit. Asking God for His plans for you tomorrow instead of just running with yours… is a practical daily step of humility – so you don’t become wise in your own eyes. It’s what those who are wise in their own eyes, won’t do. Why should they do PiVAT before dinner? They already have plans, they know better (in their own eyes). So here’s a question. Is there any folly that you are repeating in your own life? Is it because you just don’t see it? Or is it because you have grown wise in your own eyes? Praying that you will seek counsel from the LORD, the Wonderful Counselor, and also from others. It’s a habit of the humble. Asking someone who knows you, who’s an obeyer themselves, if they see anything that you could be missing. God will tell you, and He may confirm it through Godly counselors – if you will ask. Wise counselors rarely give unsolicited counsel – they don’t waste their words on someone who isn’t ready to hear. But they will if you will ask. Praying that you will also ask God about a Daily Call partner. It’s built-in counsel, and built-in folly repellent. Its how God says you overcome. “Exhort one another daily” – “Overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of your testimony.” And if you’re not walking with someone right now… Praying that you will ask God who He might want you to invite for a 3-Day-Challenge. Humbly and transparently following God’s direct command, helps you become wise in His eyes, not your own… with all the blessing and favor that comes with the wisdom that comes from God. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word. It gives you the mind of Christ. It makes you think differently - differently than you used to think, differently than most people think. You think like God thinks. He knows the end from the beginning. Are you facing anything right now? Could it end badly? God has no fear, because He is in charge, He is in control of everything, He knows what is going to happen, what people will do and what He will do. And He promised to deliver you, and to provide for you! That means any fears other than the fear of the LORD are unfounded - a waste of thought, time, and energy. Psalms 27:1 – The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. David is one of my favorite people ever. Thankfully, he wrote down what made him great, what made him different, what made him a man after God’s own heart. He wrote down what he did. First he understood, and then he always told himself. It was his habit… to secure his thoughts and beliefs. In these three verses is David talking to himself - declaring God’s truth over himself, his mind, his heart, his life. David always spoke to himself (he commanded his own mind and emotions) and he always spoke life. This wasn’t just positive thinking out loud, this wasn’t just giving himself a pep talk. He was declaring into the atmosphere and into his heart, who God is, what God promised, what God will do and what he will do! The LORD is my light and my salvation. That means I can see where I’m going. As long as I’m in the light of His Word, I will not stumble. And as long as I’m in the light of His plans… as long as my plans are His plans – I won’t get off course, and I won’t lose time going in the wrong direction. The LORD – means supreme in authority, He’s also supreme in power, supreme in understanding, supreme in intelligence, and supreme in strategy. He knows every thing the devil will try to do, before he does it… But the devil has no idea what God is going to do, or when He will do it. That means you need not fear. If He’s the stronghold of your life – who you trust in, who you run to first, whose promise and power you declare (like David) – to set your mind and thoughts and heart… then there is nothing you could face that will make you afraid. Not threat of loss or threat of harm, not threat of failure or threat of wrong decision. Ask God for wisdom and He will give it. Ask Him for His plans, and He will reveal them. Ask Him for understanding and you will receive it. Not only does David not fear, he is confident. Not in himself, his strength, wisdom or skill, his confidence is in the LORD Most High who is the stronghold He runs to, and depends on. His confidence is in the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth. That means weapons may be formed against you, but they will not prosper. It means evil men may advance against you – but they will stumble and fall. An army may even besiege you, but you will still be confident, because your confidence is in the One who brings your salvation. Your Deliver from every attack or threat, from every calamity, or misfortune, from every falsehood or false accusation. David always reveals how He thinks, and how he ensures that He keeps thinking that way. He declares God’s Word, His character, His authority, His love, and His promise. Praying that you will never miss PiVAT before dinner – it’s how you walk in God’s plans for your success today. It’s your protection, as well as your promotion. Praying you will want to keep coming back to PRISM today – it’s not only truth to establish your mind, your thoughts and how you think, it’s how to be reminded of the way to keep thinking like He thinks, and doing what He tells you. So fear will not affect you, and your confidence will be in the One who will never leave you nor forsake you, but who leads you through every battle, to the green pastures and still waters. Praying that you will think like God thinks, because you say what He says, just like David. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word. But have you ever read something, and you felt like it just doesn’t apply to you, you just don’t qualify? Psalms 26:1 – Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Verses like this always used to discourage me. I fully believe in God’s vindication, but if He vindicates the blameless, what chance do I have? Who can say that? I get the “I have trusted in the LORD” piece, I think I do that… but the blameless life part? Who can say that? That’s the point. No-one. Only Jesus can say that. So can you lead a blameless life? Of course! You can do it right now. It’s not you, or what you did or didn’t do. It’s what Jesus did and didn’t do, and the salvation He gives through the blood He shed for you. David didn’t say for I have led a sinless life, he just said I have led a blameless life. You can’t be blameless unless the blameless One takes your blame. And He did. All you need to do is repent and turn, you can do it right now, and be blameless from here. I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. If you think you do that part, but you don’t trust him to be blameless for you, to make you blameless by the blood of Jesus – then you don’t really trust in the LORD without wavering… you’re wavering. As if those sins that you did one time, or a thousand times are just too big or bad for Jesus blood to cover it. That’s not trust that’s doubt. Praying that you will receive the truths that you are blameless through Jesus – that’s how you are in right standing with God, you can be blameless today, repent and turn. Ask God to reveal any way in me that does not please you, repent and turn, and the blameless that He is – becomes the blameless that you are. Then just go down that chapter and walk with joy in the next things David says. Your love is ever before me and I walk continually in your truth. Just do PRISM today – or come back to it – and you will be walking in His truth. Declare what it says, speak it into your own heart, commit yourself with your mouth to do what He says. I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites; I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked. Being kind to people is Godly, being influenced by them is not. Guard who you listen to, who you sit with, who you watch and listen to… Get the counsel of obeyers, whose who are wise, who fear God, and leave behind those who don’t. I wash my hands in innocence and go about your altar, O LORD, proclaiming aloud your praise, and telling of all your wonderful deeds. I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells. David just choose to put himself in God’s presence, He was a worshipper – He came back to it. You can too! Just get in the place of worship where God changes you. Praise Him out loud, and tell someone else of what He did. Praying that you will have a Daily Call. If you don’t have someone right now, just invite someone to a 3-Day-Challenge. It’s built in – testimony and overcoming practice. It’s how you grow sharpened in the victories He gives. That’s how you become blameless before God with the blamelessness of Christ. It’s how He sets you feet on level ground. Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word – but I’m not always happy about it. Thankful for it, but not always comfortable. It gives instruction for success, but it also exposes the motives and intents of the heart. In life… things are not always as they appear. Especially in trials – which will surely come. Psalms 25:18 - Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me. What is happening here? David is under stress, pressure, trial, affliction both internally and from without. His enemies hate him! And they are multiplying. Not only foreign kings and armies, but even in his own country, and even in his own house. When you are under attack and troubled internally – your biggest problem is not your enemies, it’s the opportunity to sin… Notice David didn’t say, take away all my enemies, He said take away all my sins. A couple of caveats – some people have enemies because they brought it on themselves. They were rude, selfish, they mistreated others and now it’s coming back on them. That’s not what we’re talking about here. If that’s the case – repent of your sin and make it right, pay back what you owe them or stole from them, and those enemies might even become friends. This is talking about something else. The enemies that hate you without cause – like the wicked will always hate the righteous. There are some very scary passages in Scripture. Psalms 50:14 – Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me. But to the wicked, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips. You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. When you see a thief you join in with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. Your mouth is filled with wickedness and your tongue is full of lies. You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I didn’t care, but now I arraign you and bring my charges against you. Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation. Oh-oh… God makes it clear – all my promises, don’t apply to everybody. God is revealing the danger of facing trials. They are either self-inflicted, or they are of no fault of your own. But how you act in the middle of them, is fully your responsibility. First, if it’s your fault, you have no complaint coming… I Peter 2:19 – For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God (NLT says – For God is pleased when, conscious of His will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.) But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. God clearly says to the wicked, why are you claiming my promises that do not apply to you? Ouch. Like when Jesus said, “Why do you call me LORD, LORD, and don’t do what I say?” Uncomfortable. When it comes to the Bible, we always view ourselves as the good guy, and the other person as the bad guy. These promises of God’s protection are for those who fear Him, who follow His ways and walk in his paths. David understood the real problem and the real danger, was what He does, not what others do. When we suffer attack from an enemy, we tend to blame others, or complain about God, which is really accusing Him. Job was righteous, His worthless friends were trying to get him to admit his faults, but he was having none of it. “Let God come and bring his charges against me if I’ve done anything wrong.” Oh boy… Eventually God did come – after 37 Chapters of nonsense… 38:1 – Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm… Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man and I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off it’s dimensions… who stretched a measuring line across it… Have you given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn it’s place? Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?... Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? When Job finally answered… “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand… therefore I retract my words and repent in dust and ashes.” The real danger is never the trial you are in, or even the enemies that have come against you. The real danger is your tongue. What will you say about others? God hates slander. What will you say about yourself – are you more concerned with accusing others and justifying yourself, or are you focused with your eyes and mouth and heart on The LORD from whence cometh your help. Will you blame God for your problems, or accuse him of being unjust, or not coming soon enough? Praying that you will know how to respond in times of trial, or when enemies come against you. David knew the real danger was his own sin, or propensity to fall short of the upright heart that God desires in Him. When you fear God, and follow His ways – you can know for sure – God will save you from every situation you face, weapons formed against you will not prosper, God will take care of the other people if they’ve wronged you, and He promised to take care of you. Are you still mad at some people that have wronged you years ago? “I’m still mad about that…” Why? You fell victim, not to their attack, but your own response. Your sins are the real danger not theirs. David knew this, and he always kept short accounts with God. Praying that you will respond so well in every trial you face. He’s bigger than this problem, His power is greater, and He promised that He will save you, not only from them, but even from the wrong choices you could make – under pressure. Praying that you will trust Him fully, that you will rejoice in the victories He gives, and praise Him in the middle of the battle. He will surely show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him… Love you all, dad Love you all, praying for you,
I just love God’s Word – it’s truth. What if you didn’t have it? What if what you thought was truth, wasn’t? God gives the standard of truth, His Word. It’s how you know what truth is. It gives wisdom and understanding, instruction for success, examples of what works and what doesn’t, what God blesses and what He destroys. I’m so thankful for PRISM -those five things you can do in God’s Word every day. It extends God’s Word from a task to be completed to an adventure to go on! Rather than just getting it done, it helps you want to come back for more. Praying that you will Praise the Word today, there’s power in praise. Praying that you will Read the Word today, just a chapter in context… it was the training God prescribed for kings! Praying that you will get Insight from the Word through today’s Proverbs chapter, so you grow in the wisdom that brings you success! Praying that you will Study the Word – that you will S.O.A.P. out the verse He has for you today – to reveal deeper things that are hidden for those who will seek them. Praying that you will Meditate on the Word – that you will ask God which PRISM topic He might have for you today – so you gain the full mind of Christ on the important things you need. And praying that you will pray the Word today, over yourself, your spouse, your children, and anyone else whom God will lead you to. Praying that you will pray the Word over someone else today. You would be surprised at the return on that simple investment. So thankful that sometimes in my PRISM time, God has me extract truths from an entire chapter. Psalms 21: What does David do? And What does God do? I love when God gives examples of what those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him… do. Because if He did what He did in response to them, He will do the same in response to you. What if you did what David did? David rejoices in God’s strength, David commits to Him as LORD (declaring his personal commitment to obedience), David desires in his heart – what He has filled with God’s Word, David brings his requests before the LORD with his lips, David asks God for life, David is glad with the joy of God’s presence, and David trusts in the LORD. What if you did what David did? What does God do? God rises in strength and power, God gives David victories, God grants David the desires of his heart, God does not withhold the request of David’s lips, God welcomes David with rich blessings, God places a crown of pure gold on David’s head, God gives David life – that he asked for, God gives David lengths of days, and life forever, God gives David glory through the victories God gives him, God bestows on David splendor and majesty, God grants David eternal blessings (starting now) God makes David glad in His presence (David gets there… God makes him glad there!), God gives David His unfailing love, God makes David unshakable! Because of God’s unfailing love, David will never be shaken. Praying that God will show you in your PRISM time, the things that others did, that you can do… So God can do for you what He did for them! There are things God does, and there are things God does through cause and effect. The “if-then” promises He gives… But even the cause and effect are from Him. He’s the One who loves you enough to help you do the things that release the things He longs to do for you! His Word is so worth your time… It’s an investment that never fails, the greatest investment ever – and it will last forever. Praying that God draws you to His Word, so He can draw you to His good… Love you all, dad |
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